[solved]No Root Terminal

[mike-chipper]

I installed 10.04 on my Dell 600 laptop. All went very well and I proceeded to load software starting with Synaptic. After installing programs I wanted, I decided to install a game I like, which requires being ROOT in a Terminal session. It will not let me be root ( su ---> password) The message is authentication failed. Logging out of the KDE session and entering "root" as user and entering password, it fails also. I use my login and return to KDE, and use Synaptic (enter my password) and can install new programs. Updates work too entering the same password.

Can I get to be root or is my installation ruined? Ideas? -----------------Mike

[Snowhog]

Re: No Root Terminal

To gain/become root in a terminal, type:

sudo su -

(make sure to type 'exit' when you are finished to return to your users environment in the terminal)
If, however, you only need to 'root privleges' to install, then just type:

sudo command

where command is the command you want sudo to execute.

[mike-chipper]

Re: No Root Terminal

In the terminal, I did type su:
su (enter)
Password: (my password then enter)

and get authentication failed.
That is when I logged out of my KDE session to get the login screen and entered in the (graphic) box for user: root, then for password my password, the ONLY password I have, and get the same message: authentication failed.
I am puzzled since updates and software installation work with the same password.

[oshunluvr]

Re: No Root Terminal

Just a stab in the dark - there isn't a root password by default. There is a sudo password, but not root.

If you really need to be root user (not recommended in a GUI) you can first set the root user password:

sudo passwd root

then su should work.

Another option is to use sudo -i which leaves you in sudo mode until you type exit

[Snowhog]

Re: No Root Terminal

In the terminal, I did type su:
su (enter)
Password: (my password then enter)

and get authentication failed.

Did you not read my reply? :P

[GreyGeek]

Re: No Root Terminal

You were not reading close enough. The command SnowHog gave you was

sudo su -

However, the wisdom if installing a game as root is highly questionable. There is no reason why it should be given root privileges.

You can learn about chroot by doing in a Konsole:

man chroot

and

info coreutils 'chroot invocation'

Here are a few tips to help avoid common problems in using chroot.
To start with a simple example, make COMMAND refer to a statically
linked binary. If you were to use a dynamically linked executable, then
you'd have to arrange to have the shared libraries in the right place
under your new root directory.

For example, if you create a statically linked `ls' executable, and
put it in `/tmp/empty', you can run this command as root:

$ chroot /tmp/empty /ls -Rl /

Then you'll see output like this:

/:
total 1023
-rwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 1041745 Aug 16 11:17 ls

If you want to use a dynamically linked executable, say `bash', then
first run `ldd bash' (or your app) to see what shared objects it needs. Then, in
addition to copying the actual binary, also copy the listed files to
the required positions under your intended new root directory.
Finally, if the executable requires any other files (e.g., data, state,
device files), copy them into place, too.

[oshunluvr]

Re: No Root Terminal

Some of the really old Loki games required root user to install.

Does the sudo su - command work without a root user password

[Snowhog]

Re: No Root Terminal

That logs you into 'roots' environment. You will then be working 'as root' for as long as you don't type 'exit.'

[mike-chipper]

[Solved] Re: No Root Terminal

OK I didn't see the "-" Snowhog, I guess my 57yr old eyes aren't as sharp any more...
I am used to Mandriva, my old o.s. on the desktop. Laptop got the fresh new Kubuntu.
I will try it with the -. I find from time to time I need a root terminal, so I can do "house cleaning".

GreyGeek has given me pointers to address the issues needed, thank you. I think you understand what I am trying to do. (place binary somewhere, then needed libraries in a path where it can find) I have not found the libraries needed in Synaptic, it don't mean they aren't available. I just don't have enough experience to do it from scratch.

So if they aren't readilly available, I just chose to move the 5 library files to the library directory and go with it. Not the best solution but it has worked on the other computer (now running Mint 8 ).

Thank you all for the information. I really do think this Kubuntu is a good O.S., they did a great job.
---------------------------mike

[Snowhog]

Re: [Solved] Re: No Root Terminal

OK I didn't see the "-" Snowhog, I guess my 57yr old eyes aren't as sharp any more...

That's okay. Neither are my 53yr old ones! 8) :P

[Snowhog]

Re: No Root Terminal

This is what you need to know about RootSudo in Ubuntu: RootSudo

[oshunluvr]

Re: No Root Terminal

geezers... I'm only 48! 8)

[mike-chipper]

Re: No Root Terminal

Memory problems too, I'm actually 58!
Thanks kids!

[Snowhog]

Re: No Root Terminal

Well then, between the three of us, we've got 159 years of 'ex'-perience!

[GreyGeek]

Re: No Root Terminal

Make that 227 years!